I ride to give hope to Children’s Hospital Colorado patients like Kaedra and her family. I was blessed to take care of her and her family. Please consider donating!
At just four days old, Kaedra underwent her first open-heart surgery. Only two weeks later, she needed an emergent second one. The first nine months of her life were spent at CHOC, between the CICU and the CPCU.
After 273 days in the hospital, Kaedra was discharged to the Ronald McDonald House in Aurora. Over the next year, she grew, learned, and blossomed, supported closely by her medical team and therapists. When she turned two, Kaedra underwent her third open-heart surgery — a major step that helped her immensely and allowed her to continue growing stronger every day.
However, just after turning three, Kaedra’s heart and body began to need more support. It was then that her family made the decision to list her for a heart transplant — the best chance at giving her the full, beautiful life she deserved. After five months on the transplant list, Kaedra received her new heart. Sadly, her little body wasn’t able to withstand the challenges of the process. After several brave days of fighting, Kaedra lost her battle with CHD.
In her three short years, Kaedra taught us the true meaning of living. Though much of her life was spent in hospitals, her spirit never dimmed. If you knew Kaedra, you knew her love for singing (especially any Disney princess movie), her strong dislike for the “moo sound,” and her special trick for getting nurses to her room quickly — by eating her pulse ox.
We miss Kaedra more than words can express, and we will always be grateful for the incredible care she received from the Children’s Hospital Colorado Heart Institute"
